Method of making a self-contained refrigeration system



Dec. 24, 1968 J. M. WARNER METHOD OF MAKING A SELF-CONTAINED REFRIGERATION SYSTEM Original Filed Nov. 6, 1963 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 2 Claims. (Cl. 6260) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE In a method of forming and filling a composite beverage and refrigerant container having a single, rigid, outer container and a single, rigid, inner container disposed within the outer container and afiixed thereto along a single common end wall, and having a single valve disposed in engagement with the inner container only for commuicating the inner container with the atmosphere, the steps of first sealing a tubular member at one end, and then placing the open tubular end in overlapping relationship with an upraised lip on the inner annular periphery of an annular member, then rolling the tubular end outwardly to form a sealed connection between the tubular member and the annular member, then placing the tubular member Within a second tubular member, then sealing the outer periphery of the annular member to one end of the second tubular member to form an openended container, then filling the container so formed with a beverage through the open tubular end, then placing a member across the open tubular end and sealing it to form a sealed beverage container, then charging the inner tubular member with a liquid coolant through the open tubular end thereof, and then placing a valve assembly in said open tubular end so as to seal it.

This is a division of application Ser. No. 321,792, filed Nov. 6, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to self-contained refrigerating systems and more particularly to non-cyclic self-contained refrigerating systems.

There has long been a need for a simple means of cooling the contents of containers, particularly where there is no convenient source of power for operating commercial refrigerating systems or it is burdensome to maintain a cold environment by means of ice chests etc. for objects which are desirable when cold.

Picnickers, golfers, campers, fishermen, hunters and others who enjoy participating in outdoor activities have particular need for a small, portable beverage container having a light weight and automatic means for cooling the beverage itself.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a means for efliciently cooling the contents of a beverage container. It is a further object of this invention to provide such cooling with a minimum of inconvenience to the user of the beverage.

The above and further objects of this invention will further become apparent hereinafter and in the drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a device embodying this invention, a central portion being broken away.

FIG. 2 is a detailed cross-sectional view of one form of valve which is suitable as a component of the device.

FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of successive stages in the formation of the upper portion of a container in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in perspective of the completed upper portion referred to above.

Referring now specifically to the embodiment of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, FIG.

1 shows an outer container 4 having a top 1 and a bottom 20, which contains the beverage B. The number 2 designates an inner container which is a pressure container of stronger construction than the outer container, which is substantially completely full of a liquified coolant under pressure, having a liquid level L. As will be seen, a spacer 3 is provided intermediate the inner and outer containers in order to maintain the lower portion of the inner container 2 in a predetermined fixed position.

The top 1 of the outer container 4 is sealed to the side wall at 5 and is also sealed to the inner container by means of the seal 7 which runs completely around the periphery of the upper portion of the inner container. Located at the center of the top of the inner container is a vent pipe 14 which is swaged into the upwardly flanged inner portion of a closure member 10 which covers the top opening of the inner container and is crimped to the seal 7, as at 12. Suitable gasketing material 11 is interposed between the rolled metal flanges at the seal 7 in order to assure a fluid-tight fit between the inner and the outer containers. The vent pipe 14 is provided at an upper portion thereof with a valve member 19, of the self-closing variety, shown in a depressed position. The valve member .19 is protected from the outside by means of a cap 15 'which is crimped onto the central assembly of the closure member 10.

Turning now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that valve means are provided for controllably releasing the fluid under pressure from the inner container-2. This means comprises a valve actuator generally designated 16, screwed onto the cap 15. The valve actuator 1-6 is provided with a stem 18 which is arranged to contact the valve member 19 in order to open the valve in response to a turning movement of the valve actuator 16. The top 1 is suitably corrugated recessively toward the center and the cap 15 and valve actuator 16 are preferably so proportioned such that the valve actuator 16 is completely recessed below the outward top rim of the outer container 4.

Accordingly, in operation, when the user of the device desires to cool the beverage B, he simply turns the valve actuator 16, thus depressing valve member 19 and controllably releasing gas from the upper portion of the inner container 2. The release of gas allows for vaporization of liquid at the liquid level L, and continuous vaporization of the liquid takes place until the supply of liquid is exhausted or until the valve member 19 is closed. The heat required for this vaporization is absorbed from the remaining liquid and the container 2 which in turn absorbs heat from the beverage B, rapidly cooling it.

It is important in accordance with this invention that the valve member 19 is located above the liquid level L to release the coolant in vapor form rather than in liquid form since the cooling effect in accordance with this invention is dependent upon the absorption of the latent heat of vaporization of the liquid in the inner container 2. In addition to the heat of vaporization, this invention also takes advantage of the heat absorbed due to the expansion of the gas.

It will be appreciated that this invention takes advantage of convection, since as the liquid coolant absorbs heat from the beverage it cools the beverage adjacent the surface of container 2 and the cooled beverage descends along this surface thus setting up convection currents which increase the rate of heat transfer from the beverage to the inner container 2.

It is important in accordance with this invention that the container 2 is substantially surrounded by the container 4, with an intervening layer of beverage to be cooled. The heat of vaporization plus the heat of expansion of the liquid coolant is so great that the temperature at the surface of the container 2 would drop to a value so low as to give the user frostbite in many cases, if the container 2 were exposed to the touch.

FIGS. 3-7 show a preferred method of assembling the apparatus according to this invention. In FIG. 3, the members 1 and 2 are shown in overlapping relationship, and in FIG. 4 they are rolled down forming an upper, outwardly extending flange. FIG. 5 shows the outwardly extending flange further rolled down, and FIG. 6 shows the entire vertically extending flange turned down upon itself forming the seal 7. FIG. 7 shows the resulting sealed structure, with the beverage in the outer container and with the liquid coolant in the inner container, and with the valve assembly secured in place and the cap crimped in place.

The method of forming and filling the container in accordance with this invention is of importance. The structure is preferably formed in the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, 5, and 6, and the cylindrical portion of the outer container 4, without any bottom 20, is sealed to the top 1, by means of the seal 5. The outer container 4 is then filled with beverage through the bottom and the bottom is then sealed in place. Then, the liquid coolant is charged into the inner container 2 in a conventional manner and the valve assembly and the cap 15 are crimped in place. The valve actuator 16 is then assembled in a proper position, ready for operation in conjunction with the valve member 19.

It is an advantage that the inner container is seamed to only one end of the outer container. In this manner, the entire bottom of the inner container is available as a heat transfer surface and this speeds the cooling of the beverage B.

Although any suitable liquified gas refrigerant may be utilized, excellent results have been obtained in accordance with this invention, utilizing the fluorinated hydrocarbon referred to in the trade as Freon, particularly Freon 12, which is dichlorodifluoromethane.

It will be appreciated that many variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention. For example, although it is desired to provide a valve actuator 16 which may be screwed and unscrewed in order to open and close the valve, and although this is of great advantage in allowing the user to prevent over-cooling of the beverage, in some cases it is possible to utilize a simple one-shot valve which simply opens up and emits all of the liquified gas vapors.

It will be appreciated that various changes may be made in the materials used in the containers such as a substitution of glass for metal or plastic or the like. Further, changes in shape may be made, for example, the outer container may be in the shape of a bottle.

Further, variations may be made in the sequence of steps used in the method, for example, inner container 2 may be assembled to top 1 as shown in FIG. 6 with the valve assembly already in place and then charged with liquified refrigerant. This assembly may be charged before or after outer top 1 is sealed to outer can 4. Also, the liquified refrigerant may be introduced prior to the insertion of the valve assembly. Of course, other varia tions may be made when desired.

Although this invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, equivalent elements may be substituted for those shown and described, certain parts may be used independently of the use of other parts, and parts may be reversed and assembly and filling sequences may be reversed all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

The following is claimed:

1. In a method of making and filling a self-cooling container having a rigid, tubular, outer container and a rigid, tubular, inner container, each of said containers having one end thereof sealed and the other end thereof connected to an annular member, said annular member being in sealed engagement along its outer periphery with the tubular end of the outer container, and along its inner periphery with the tubular end of the inner container, and having a valve assembly disposed in sealed engagement with said tubular end of the inner container, the steps comprising:

(a) assembling said tubular end of said inner container with the inner periphery of said annular member so as to form a fluid tight seal;

(b) inserting said inner container into said outer container;

(c) sealing the outer periphery of said annular member to said outer container;

(d) filling the outer container with a desired fluid;

(e) sealing the remaining open end of said outer container with an end portion, and, in any sequence, the steps of applying said valve assembly to the inner container opening, and sealing said opening, and filling said inner container with a suitable fluid refrigerant.

2. The method of applying the steps of claim 1 to a composite metallic beverage and refrigerant container whose annular member has an upwardly extending flange along its inner annular periphery, wherein step 1(a) includes the steps of aligning the inner tubular member adjacent to its open end in overlapping relationship with the upwardly extending flange, and then rolling both the tubular member and the upwardly extending flange outwardly and downwardly, to form the sealed connection between the members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,946,962 2/1934 Block 62386 X 1,987,323 1/1935 Carroll et al 62386 X 2,021,367 11/1935 Louis 62-386 2,460,765 1/1949 Palaith 62-53O X 2,889,078 6/1959 Thomas 53-36 2,981,435 4/1961 McCarthy 220-23 3,169,670 2/1965 Hrebenak et al. 14l3 X TRAVIS S. MCGEHEE, Primary Examiner. N. ABRAMS, Assistant Examiner. 

